Joshua Portman
Encyclopedia
Joshua Portman is an American musician who has played guitar in a number of well-known punk/post-hardcore bands including Near Miss (band), Staring Back, and most notably, a stint playing bass guitar for Yellowcard
in 2007. Currently, Portman is in Georgia working on his Bachelor's Degree in Business/Marketing and playing lead guitar in 80's hair metal tribute band, GREAT WHITE LION SNAKE.
guitarist/current Nothington vocalist Jay Northington. The post-hardcore outfit disbanded after just a year together.
group split up several months later when their lead guitarist/key songwriter Ryan Mendez joined Yellowcard
. In 2006, the post-hardcore band Near Miss asked Josh to join. He relocated to their home of Austin, TX and toured extensively with the band all over the U.S., including a spot on the Vans Warped Tour
that same year. Near Miss officially broke up in 2007. Later that same year, Portman was asked to fill the position of bassist for Yellowcard
when Pete Mosely and the band parted ways mid-way through the first U.S. tour for "Paper Walls". He finished out the tour with Blue October
and Shiny Toy Guns
, performed on the iTunes only Yellowcard release, "Live from Las Vegas at The Palms", and continued with the band for a 15-day tour in Japan with Linkin Park
. The band's next tour was an acoustic venture and then they went on "indefinite hiatus". Sean O' Donnell, formerly of Reeve Oliver
, is now the bassist for the recently (2010) reunited Yellowcard
.
went on "indefinite hiatus", Josh Portman left his residence in Atlanta to finish his degree in business at Macon State College
. Wanting to still continue pursuing music and performing, he put together an all 80's hair metal tribute band called Great White Lion Snake at the end of 2008. Portman's stage name for GWLS is Jef Leppard. They can be seen performing all over Georgia.
Yellowcard
Yellowcard is an American pop punk/alternative rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1997, and based in Los Angeles, California since 2000. Their music features the use of a violin, unusual for the genre...
in 2007. Currently, Portman is in Georgia working on his Bachelor's Degree in Business/Marketing and playing lead guitar in 80's hair metal tribute band, GREAT WHITE LION SNAKE.
Early life
Joshua (Josh) Portman was born on October 26, 1979. His younger years were spent living in Madison, WI before moving with his family to Atlanta, GA upon entering fourth grade. At the age of twelve, Josh received his very first guitar and has been writing, recording, and performing ever since. Initially influenced by the glam and thrash metal bands of the 80's, Portman later immersed himself in the post-hardcore and Seattle bands of the early 90's and then the "new school" punk bands of the mid-90's. He has been a part of many bands that have explored all of these genres.Early Bands
Portman's first band, Zero Racecar, was formed in 1994 in Perry, GA. He joined the band two years later at the age of fifteen and immediately began playing shows throughout Georgia, as well as Florida and the Carolinas. After graduating in 1998, he formed another band in Atlanta called Lancaster with ex-Tsunami BombTsunami Bomb
Tsunami Bomb was a punk rock band from Petaluma, California that was active between 1998 and October 2005 and released 2 studio albums and 4 EPs. They were founded by Dominic David who left in 2003...
guitarist/current Nothington vocalist Jay Northington. The post-hardcore outfit disbanded after just a year together.
Later Bands: Staring Back, Near Miss, and Yellowcard
In 2005, Portman joined Santa Barbara-based punk band Staring Back after flying out for an audition. However, the Lobster RecordsLobster Records
Lobster Records is an independent record label based in Santa Barbara, California. It was founded by Stevan Lubarsky in 1991. The label started with Bad Neighbor, a Montecito based rock band, with a huge local following featuring Alan Duncan and Mark Bennett on guitars, Sean Murphy on drums, Todd...
group split up several months later when their lead guitarist/key songwriter Ryan Mendez joined Yellowcard
Yellowcard
Yellowcard is an American pop punk/alternative rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1997, and based in Los Angeles, California since 2000. Their music features the use of a violin, unusual for the genre...
. In 2006, the post-hardcore band Near Miss asked Josh to join. He relocated to their home of Austin, TX and toured extensively with the band all over the U.S., including a spot on the Vans Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
that same year. Near Miss officially broke up in 2007. Later that same year, Portman was asked to fill the position of bassist for Yellowcard
Yellowcard
Yellowcard is an American pop punk/alternative rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1997, and based in Los Angeles, California since 2000. Their music features the use of a violin, unusual for the genre...
when Pete Mosely and the band parted ways mid-way through the first U.S. tour for "Paper Walls". He finished out the tour with Blue October
Blue October
Blue October is a rock band from Houston, Texas. The band was formed in 1995 and currently consists of Justin Furstenfeld , Jeremy Furstenfeld , Ryan Delahoussaye , Matt Noveskey , and Julian Mandrake .-History:Blue October was formed by lead...
and Shiny Toy Guns
Shiny Toy Guns
Shiny Toy Guns is an American indie rock band that formed in 2002 in Los Angeles, California. They released their first studio album We Are Pilots in 2006, after recording it two previous times. It featured three singles that peaked inside the top 30 in the Alternative Songs Chart. We Are Pilots...
, performed on the iTunes only Yellowcard release, "Live from Las Vegas at The Palms", and continued with the band for a 15-day tour in Japan with Linkin Park
Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
. The band's next tour was an acoustic venture and then they went on "indefinite hiatus". Sean O' Donnell, formerly of Reeve Oliver
Reeve Oliver
Reeve Oliver is an American pop rock band formed in 2000 in San Diego, California. They have released two albums and several EPs and have toured with larger acts such as The Vandals, Yellowcard, and Switchfoot...
, is now the bassist for the recently (2010) reunited Yellowcard
Yellowcard
Yellowcard is an American pop punk/alternative rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1997, and based in Los Angeles, California since 2000. Their music features the use of a violin, unusual for the genre...
.
Great White Lion Snake and other Current Endeavors
After YellowcardYellowcard
Yellowcard is an American pop punk/alternative rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1997, and based in Los Angeles, California since 2000. Their music features the use of a violin, unusual for the genre...
went on "indefinite hiatus", Josh Portman left his residence in Atlanta to finish his degree in business at Macon State College
Macon State College
Macon State College, formerly Macon College and Macon Junior College, is a four-year, residential, baccalaureate degree institution of the University System of Georgia located in Macon, Georgia with a satellite campus in Warner Robins, Georgia, as well as the Robins Resident Center, located on...
. Wanting to still continue pursuing music and performing, he put together an all 80's hair metal tribute band called Great White Lion Snake at the end of 2008. Portman's stage name for GWLS is Jef Leppard. They can be seen performing all over Georgia.